'Irreplaceable' Xavi Quits Barca

If you ask Barcelona and Spain fans about their most cherished footballing memories over the past decade the chances are they will involve an exquisite intervention from midfield maestro Xavi.

Widely regarded as one of the best playmakers the game has produced, Xavi has been the tireless dynamo at the heart of a glittering run for his club and country, effortlessly controlling play in the central areas and able to pierce even the most stubborn defences in a heartbeat.

The 35-year-old from Terrassa announced on Thursday he was leaving Barca after more than two decades with the Catalan club he joined aged 11, during which he has won 23 titles, including three Champions League crowns and eight La Liga trophies.

With Spain, he helped end a 44-year trophy drought at Euro 2008, sending Fernando Torres clear to score the winner against Germany in the final, and went on to lead La Roja to their first World Cup success in 2010 and another continental crown two years later.

Spain destroyed Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev, when Xavi created two of their goals including another for Torres, and the general consensus after the news emerged he had agreed a three-year deal with Qatari club Al Sadd was that Spain is unlikely to see a player of his quality again anytime soon.

"Xavi has been a key man in the run we have had in Spanish football," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said on Wednesday. "It's hard to find a player coming through who can replace him. He is irreplaceable."

Age, of course, was finally starting to catch up with Xavi, while the prospect of a lucrative stint in the Middle East will also have played its part in his decision.

He was close to leaving Barca after they ended last season without winning a major trophy and decided to retire from internationals following Spain's flop at the 2014 World Cup.

New Barca coach Luis Enrique, a former teammate, persuaded him to stay on and he has made a vital contribution, mostly from the bench, to their charge towards repeating 2009's treble of Champions League and Spanish league and Cup titles.

The La Liga triumph Barca secured with victory at Atletico Madrid on Sunday was Xavi's eighth and he was given a standing ovation by fans of both sides at the Calderon when he replaced Andres Iniesta in the second half.

He can win another two trophies before he departs, with Barca through to the Champions League final to play Juventus on June 6 and set to host Athletic Bilbao in the King's Cup final a week earlier.

TRUE PLEASURE

Iniesta has largely assumed Xavi's role this term, although with him having turned 31 this month Barca face a fiendishly tough task in finding an effective long-term replacement for the playmaking role.

Candidates Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara have both moved on, while Ivan Rakitic, who joined from Sevilla last year, has potential but still much to prove.

Iniesta paid tribute this week to Xavi, with whom has he has won pretty much everything there is to win in soccer.

"I have run out of words of praise, I can't find a compliment that does justice to what he represents, what he means as a person and a player," Iniesta said on Barca's website (www.fcbarcelona.es).

"He is a unique, once in a lifetime player who has been fundamental in almost everything good at his club and with the national team.

"For me it has been ... a true pleasure and honour to have played my whole career by his side."


Xavi Factbox:
* Born Xavi Hernandez Creus on January 25, 1980 in Terrassa.

* Joins Barca's academy in July 1991. Scores on his first-team debut seven years later in a Spanish Super Cup match against Real Mallorca.

* Makes first appearance for Spain in a friendly against the Netherlands in November 2000.

* Suffers a cruciate knee ligament injury in Barca training in December 2005 that sidelines him for five months.

* Returns to action the following April but has to watch from the bench as Barca beat Arsenal 2-1 in Paristo win the 2006 Champions League.

* Voted player of the tournament as Spain end 44 years without a major trophy at Euro 2008. Xavi sendsFernando Torres through to score the winner against Germany in the final.

* With Pep Guardiola in his first season in charge in 2008-09, Xavi helps Barca win an unprecedented treble of Champions League, La Liga and King's Cup titles.

* Xavi's floated cross is headed in by Lionel Messi to make it 2-0 against Manchester United in the Champions League final in Rome.

* Barca go on to win the Spanish and European Super Cups and the Club World Cup for a full house of six trophies in 2009.

* Xavi finishes third in the 2009 Fifa Ballon d'Or, the first of three straight third-place finishes.

* Helps Spain to their debut World Cup triumph in July 2010 in South Africa.

* In January 2011, equals Migueli's Barca appearance record of 549 official matches.

* Makes superb assist for Pedro to open the scoring as Barca beat United 3-1 in London to win the 2011 Champions League.

* Spain defend their continental title at Euro 2012 and Xavi sets up two goals in the final, including another for Torres, as La Roja thrash Italy 4-0.

* Spain are eliminated from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after losing their opening two games and Xavi announces his international retirement after 133 appearances, a record for an outfield player.

* Barca last weekend wrap up their seventh La Liga title in 11 years, and Xavi's eighth, and he announces he is leaving at the end of the season to join Al Sadd.

* Xavi won 23 titles with Barca: eight in La Liga, three in the Champions League, two King's Cups, two European Super Cups, six Spanish Super Cups and two Club World Cups.

He has a chance for two more in the King's Cup final against Athletic Bilbao on May 30 and the Champions League final against Juventus a week later.

Hodgson Sympathises With Sterling

England manager Roy Hodgson expressed sympathy for Raheem Sterling on Thursday over the Liverpool forward's increasingly unseemly contract stand-off with his club.

Sterling has rejected a new deal worth £100 000 a week and Liverpool are reported to have cancelled a meeting with his representatives after his agent, Aidy Ward, was quoted by the London Evening Standard newspaper as saying that Sterling was determined to leave.

Sterling, 20, has come in for criticism from Liverpool greats including Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness, while he was booed during the club's end-of-season awards ceremony, but Hodgson believes allowances should be made for the player's tender age.

"I worry for all these young players, to be honest," Hodgson told reporters at Wembley Stadium.

"They become stars very quickly. Their period of potential stardom doesn't last for very long these days. Sometimes, a few games in the Premier League and you are a star.

"We should never forget we're dealing with very young people. I believe from what I know of Raheem that he's strong enough to compartmentalise his life –- from this side to what happens on the field of play, which is what interests me."

Hodgson added: "I trust him implicitly. I think he's a very important person and a very important player for England going forward.

"I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't continue to kick on and get even better as he gets older.

"And I really do sympathise with these players who, if you like, have got to live their lives under scrutiny -– sometimes of their making, sometimes of other people's making –- and they've got to deal with it."

GREALISH 'VERY TALENTED'

Sterling was included in the squad that Hodgson named for next month's friendly against Ireland and 2016 European Championship qualifier against Slovenia, along with uncapped trio Charlie Austin, Jamie Vardy and Tom Heaton.

One name absent from the 24-man list was Aston Villa's 19-year-old playmaker Jack Grealish, who was born in the English city of Birmingham but has represented Ireland at youth level.

Hodgson confirmed that the Football Association has informed Grealish of England's interest in him, but said it was up to the player to decide which country he wants to represent at senior level.

"He's fully aware that if he wants to play for England, we'd be very happy to take him," Hodgson said.

"He's a very talented footballer. In my opinion, at this young age, he's showing the qualities that will make him a very good future international player.

"But I don't want to put pressure on him to play for us if he wants to play for Ireland.

"There will be an Irish connection in his family as well as an English one and it's up to them to decide what they really want to do.

"And when they decide, whoever is the 'loser' in that because he's chosen one over the other, they should respect that, wish him all the best and allow him to get on with it."

Explaining his decision not to select Grealish, Hodgson said it would have been "inflammatory" to do so given that England's next opponents are Ireland.

Sick Hazard Misses Award Show

Chelsea star Eden Hazard was unable to collect his Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award on Thursday after having emergency dental surgery to remove three wisdom teeth.

Hazard topped the poll of journalists with 53 percent of the vote, ahead of second placed Tottenham striker Harry Kane, and was set to collect the prestigious accolade at a gala dinner in London.

However, the 24-year-old Belgium midfielder, who played a key role in Chelsea's Premier League title triumph this season, was unable to attend in person as he is recovering from the dental procedure.

"Big thank you to the English Football Writers for naming me their player of the year. I am sorry I cannot be there tonight but please know I am very proud of this big award," he wrote on Twitter.

A statement from the FWA read: "2015 Footballer of the Year Eden Hazard has had emergency dental surgery and will be unable to collect his award in person.

"Hazard tried to delay the surgery but had to have three wisdom teeth removed on Wednesday and is still in considerable pain."

Coppa Win Keeps Juve Treble Alive

Two down, the big one to go.

Juventus are on the verge of a historic treble after collecting the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, with Alessandro Matri ensuring that the entire Bianconeri squad will receive their fair share of the limelight if they do go on to beat Barcelona in the Champions League final.

The 2-1 success over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico was a victory for Massimiliano Allegri’s approach to the task of making Juve competitive on all fronts. Whereas his predecessor Antonio Conte was renowned for sending out his first XI as often as possible regardless of the scenario, Allegri has been more conservative but more trusting of his players.

He has afforded Roberto Pereyra plenty of playing time, has given the likes of Simone Padoin and Stefano Sturaro a fair share of starts. He has had no quarms about resting his main men when the time has been right. On top of that, he has gladly switched formations to suit the demands of the occasion and to benefit those he has inserted into the line-up.

Even ahead of the Coppa Italia final there were questions asked of his decision to start Marco Storari rather than Gianluigi Buffon despite the former Catania and Milan goalkeeper having started every game in the competition this season. Although Storari was beaten in the fourth minute by a scuffed header by Stefan Radu, he led from the back superbly throughout.

Looking at the shape of the Bianconeri backline, you would have been forgiven for thinking Buffon – one of the world’s greatest ever organisers – was the man donning the gloves. And when he was just about beaten soon after extra-time had begun, Storari had covered a Filip Djordjevic effort which hit both posts and cannoned back into play.

Moments later, Matri fired home the decisive goal. It was only his second strike since returning to the club to become the fourth-choice front man following the departure to Toronto of Sebastian Giovinco. This was a game which reminded the rest of Italy that Juventus don’t just have the best team, they have the best squad.

Their reserves have what it takes to contribute in the big games too, with the losses of Claudio Marchisio and Alvaro Morata to suspension having no lasting effect thanks to the significant strength in depth. Much is said of Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez but the first three have missed decent chunks of the 2014-15 campaign to little consequence.

It became a huge talking point across the country when Juve shirked the custom of donning gold stars on their shirts after securing what they consider to be their 30th Scudetto in 2012. With Wednesday’s result, they will now be invited to wear a silver star to represent their record 10 Coppa Italia triumphs.

There will doubtless now be a conversation within the boardroom at Corso Galileo Ferraris to decide on the politics of taking up the invitation, but if there is a hint of silver added to the black and white next season then it will be a reminder of the depth of quality that the current Juventus squad has available.

When they head to Berlin on June 6, the likes of Storari and Matri are sure to be left on the bench at the very least. But they have helped Juve to continue to taste that winning feeling. They are on a seemingly unstoppable roll.

Bring on Barcelona!

Wenger: Arsenal Did Not Look Like Scoring

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has bemoaned his side's lack of cutting edge in front of goal as they again failed to find the net against Sunderland.

The Gunners have drawn a blank in their last three home matches, though the point against the Black Cats all but secured third place for the north London outfit after their draw with Manchester United on Sunday.

"We can say that we dominated possession but we lack a bit of sharpness at the moment in our movement and the way we take our chances," he told reporters at the Emirates Stadium.

"We were a bit jaded tonight. Also we haven’t scored in the last three games at home and that played a big part in our spontaneous finishing.

"You have to expect your opponent to play well. We are in a strong position to finish in the top three, so let's do it.

"We didn’t look like scoring, honestly. Even if we had 20 shots on goal, there was always something missing. We needed something special to score tonight and they defended very well. There was always a body there, particularly [Sebastian] Coates and [John] O’Shea from crosses.

"The point we took at Manchester United on Sunday was vital. If we’d lost that game, we would be in trouble."

Man United Transfer Spotlight: Ajax Goalkeeper To Replace David De Gea?

Manchester United may have to enter the summer transfer market to source a long-term replacement for David de Gea, who is the subject of intense interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old's waves to the Old Trafford crowd following his substitution against Arsenal last weekend has seen speculation go into overdrive and, by Louis van Gaal's own admission, the Spain international faces a difficult decision as to whether he stays put or returns to his homeland during the close season.

However, contingency plans may have already been made, as Ajax shot-stopper Jasper Cillessen – who has previously worked under Van Gaal at international level – has emerged as a potential target.

Name: Jasper Cillessen
Date of birth (Age): 22/04/1989 (26)
Birthplace: Nijmegen, Netherlands
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Ajax

What’s the latest?

Madrid's proposed pursuit of De Gea is still on the cards, despite the news that Iker Casillas will remain at the Bernabeu next season, talkSPORT has been told.

Meanwhile, Ajax are keen to retain the services of Cillessen and director of football Marc Overmars has warned the Red Devils off of the goalkeeper after claiming that he will not be sold, even for a fee as high as €25 million.

However, such a sum would be difficult to reject, while Cillessen may relish an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Edwin van der Sar, at the Theatre of Dreams.

Did you know?

1) The Dutchman began his senior career with N.E.C. before joining Ajax for a reported fee of €3 million.

2) Cillessen only became Ajax's first-choice goalkeeper in September 2013 after dislodging Kenneth Vermeer and kept 14 clean sheets en route to his club's fourth consecutive title.

3) Cillessen was substituted with just seconds to go of the Netherlands' World Cup quarter-final clash against Costa Rica last summer, as Van Gaal preferred to rely on Newcastle United's Tim Krul in a penalty shoot out.

4) No goalkeeper in the top tier of Dutch football kept more clean sheets than Cillessen this season (12). The Netherlands international conceded 26 goals in 32 Eredivisie appearances.

They say:

Ajax may have failed to retain their Eredivisie crown, due to a Memphis Depay-inspired PSV Eindhoven, but Amsterdammers boss Frank de Boer is adamant Cillessen is the only member of his squad that enjoyed an impressive season on an individual note.

“He’s one of the few who has had a very good and consistent season," said De Boer. "He is actually the only one. Least goals conceded means something. Of course he does not do it alone, but it says something about Cillessen. Not only as a goalkeeper, but also as the leader of the rearguard.

“Can he reach the level of world goalkeepers as Edwin van der Sar and Manuel Neuer? I think he can get very close," De Boer declared.

Video evidence:

There's something very De Gea-esque about this reflex save to deny Barcelona's Andres Iniesta from point-blank range.

Cullled from talksport

Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland: Black Cats Secure Premier League Safety With Stubborn Draw

A stubborn Sunderland secured their place in next season’s Premier League as they ground out a goalless draw at Arsenal.

The Black Cats travelled south knowing that a point would move them beyond reach of 18th placed Hull and guarantee their top flight safety.

And Dick Advocaat’s men executed their manager’s tactics perfectly, as a brave defensive display effectively shut out the hosts while they also created a handful of opportunities to snatch a brilliant victory, though Steven Fletcher was guilty of wasting several chances.

The Gunners had their moments too, but were either denied by in-form goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon or a series of desperate last-ditch blocks.

The Emirates was eerily quiet throughout a battling first half, in which Arsenal - who now haven't scored at home in three games - went closest when Olivier Giroud saw a volley tipped behind by Pantilimon.

Giroud looked lively at times for the hosts but at others didn’t seem that bothered to join his team-mates in the box, as several crosses from the flank went begging.

After the break, though, the scrappy encounter transformed into an end-to-end contest, as the highly compacted Sunderland side, who were camped back around their penalty area in large parts of the first half, began to stretch their legs.

The Wearside outfit started the second-half well, though Fletcher should have done better when an Adam Johnson through-ball set him free and the Scottish striker thumped an effort straight at David Ospina.

Patrick van Aanholt was next to go close as the Black Cats carved out two great chances in a matter of minutes, the Dutchman cutting in from the left but going for goal instead of passing to the wide-open Fletcher, and seeing his tame effort saved.

Giroud then hit the bar from a speculative cross before he was again denied by the quick reflexes of Pantilimon, who got managed to flick out a hand to deny the Frenchman’s strong flicked shot from Hector Bellerin’s wicked cross.

Fans were half asleep in the first half but were up on the feet on the hour-mark when both teams went close to an opener within seconds of each other.

On-loan Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates was first the hero for Sunderland with a superb block to prevent Alexis Sanchez from getting a shot away.

The Black Cats then broke forward and Fletcher found himself through on goal, but the Scot again fluffed his lines as his attempted chip over Ospina was deflected wide, and he thumped another great chance high over the crossbar minutes later.

Sunderland were almost punished for their poor finishing when Arsenal put the Black Cats’ box under siege in the closing stages, Pantilimon twice saving from substitute Theo Walcott before Billy Jones was inches away from scoring an unfortunate own goal, when Aaron Ramsey’s shot deflected off the defender’s shoulder and onto the bar.

But Advocaat was soon jumping for joy and then in tears at the final whistle as his side managed to hold on, leaving rivals Newcastle United and Hull City to battle it out for safety on the final day.

A point for Arsenal, meanwhile, seals a top-three spot to finally avoid a pesky Champions League play-off.

Fabregas Three-Match Ban Reduced To one

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has had his three-match ban following his bizarre sending off against West Browmwich Albion reduced to one game, the Premier League champions said on Wednesday.

The Spaniard was shown a red card in the first half of Monday's 3-0 defeat at the Hawthorns for unsportsmanlike conduct by referee Mike Jones.

The official was in the process of booking Chelsea striker Diego Costa after he tussled with Gareth McAuley when Fabregas, standing some 20 metres away, chipped the ball towards a crowd of players and it hit West Brom's Chris Brunt on the head, prompting Jones to walk over and brandish a red card.

"The standard sanction would have been a three-match suspension," Chelsea said in a statement on their website.

"However, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing earlier today, the club's claim that a three-match suspension is excessive was successful.

"Fabregas will therefore now only miss our final game of the season against Sunderland on Sunday and will be available for selection from the start of the 2015/16 campaign."

Chelsea are eight points clear of second place Manchester City going into their final match of the season.

Adebayor Reveals Suicidal Thoughts

Tottenham Hotspur's Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor revealed in a candid Facebook post on Wednesday that he considered suicide over a feud with his family.

The 31-year-old, who has barely featured for Spurs this season, also claimed that he had had a knife held to his throat by his brothers, Peter – who died in July 2012 – and Kola.

"Many times I wanted to give up," Adebayor wrote. "Ask my sister Iyabo Adebayor how many times I have called and was ready to commit suicide. I kept these stories for years.

"But if I die, no-one would know my story, no-one would learn from it. Some people say I should keep these stories private, but someone has to sacrifice himself, someone has to talk about it."

It is the third time this month that Adebayor has published a lengthy post on Facebook about his disagreements with members of his family.

In the latest 1 649-word offering – posted in English and French – he alleged that he was threatened with a knife after refusing to give Kola money to set up a car business during his time at Monaco.

"I was very tired and decided to go take a nap. I woke and a knife was held to my throat," Adebayor wrote.

"As I opened my eyes, both of my brothers (Kola and Peter) were there. They were shouting and they claimed that I was wasting their time.

"Peter was going mad and Kola was supporting (him). I asked them, 'Is this the only way to solve this issue? If yes, then kill me and take the money.' It's only at that moment that he put the knife down."

Adebayor explained that he had taken to Facebook after his siblings spoke out about "family issues" on social media.

Adebayor has been at Spurs since 2011, following previous spells with Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid, but has made only 10 appearances this season, scoring two goals.

Casillas Turns 34 With Future Uncertain

Real Madrid goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas turned 34 on Wednesday with uncertainty still clouding his future with the European champions, and Real reportedly lining up David De Gea as his replacement.

Casillas has been blamed by some fans for Real's woes this season, when they failed to win any of the three major trophies, while arch rivals Barcelona are on the verge of a treble of Champions League and Spanish league and Cup titles.

The Spain international has suggested he wants to see out his contract, which runs until the end of the 2016-17 season, but he has been visibly irritated by his treatment at the Bernabeu in recent weeks.

While some sections of fans clearly back him, others have roundly whistled him, along with coach Carlo Ancelotti and Wales winger Gareth Bale.

Madrid-based sports dailies Marca and As both reported on Wednesday that Real had let Casillas know the club wants him to stay on next season.

That did not mean, however, that Real would abandon their efforts to lure the 24-year-old De Gea, second choice for Spain behind Casillas, from Manchester United in the close season, they added.

If De Gea does move back to Spain, Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas, who joined Real after shining at last year's World Cup finals in Brazil, would look to move on, reports said.

Casillas made his first-team debut for Real in September 1999 and has made 724 appearances in 16 seasons, winning a host of trophies including three Champions League crowns and five La Liga titles.